How I Live... Smart Cookie Susan's A Guiding Light

Susan Coleman (52) Is the Chief Executive of Girlguiding New Zealand

- Julie Jacobson

Everyone seems to associate biscuits and pitching a tent and lighting campfires with Guiding. Certainly, some of the activities that I did as a Brownie continue today, but the world has evolved and Guiding has evolved with it.

When I was a Brownie, we danced around a toadstool and there was a fairy theme connected to this. I remember as part of my enrolment looking for the elf in the mirror and finding myself. This is no longer part of the Brownie programme, plus it has moved from being very home-based to being wideranging, including developing technology and budget skills.

One of my greatest memories from my time as a Guide was leading my own camp with all that entailed, but without any adults around. It was very forward for the 1970s, but it was a wonderful opportunity and quite a unique experience back “ then. I would have been 13.

I also have vivid memories of digging latrines when we went camping – on the whole, that’s part of a bygone era.

The uniform has become much more informal with the colours now selected by the girls. In 1970, the dresses were updated, with the pockets on the front removed, but badges were still sewn on sleeves and a beret worn. By 1982, we had pinafores with a blouse or T-shirt under, and a badge sash.